Illuminated figure indicating, counter

ABSTRACT

An illuminated figure indicating, electromagnetic counter is disclosed wherein electrical input pulses are used to drive a lighted multi-segment numeral indicator. The input pulses are applied to electromagnetic means having an actuating arm which engages a gear affixed to rotor means having a predetermined pattern of surface irregularities. Resilient contacts make and break circuits for each segment of the display responsive to the surface irregularities and the stepwise rotation of the rotor means. A combination of such counters is disclosed enabling multi-digit representations and up and down counting.

United States Patent [191 Wakabayashi 7, [5 1 ILLUMINATED FIGURE more/misc,

COUNTER [76] Inventor: Yasuo Wakabayashi, No. F-l9l Kamakura-Zuski, Highland No. 1362-293, Hisaki Machi, Zusk-shi, Kanagawa-ken, Japan [22] Filed: June 27, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 266,676

[52] US. Cl. 235/92 EA, 235/92 EV, 235/92 R,

235/92 0 51 rm. Cl. (206m 3/06 58 Field of Search 235/92 av, 92 EA, 92 c; 340/336 [5 61 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,979.028 10/1934 Ewart 235/92-C 2,094,122 9/1937 Ha selton 235/92 EA 2,127,733 8/1938 HCrbSt 235792 EA 2,272,242 2/1942 Frischknecht... 235/92 C 2,922,993 1/1960 Sack 340/336 2,973,145 2/l96l Daniels et a1 235/92 EA 1 June 4, 1974 3,115,573 12/1963 3,329,805 7/1967 Wells 235/92 C 3,363,347 H1968 Benson 340/336 X 3,329,805 7/1967 Wells 235/92 C Primary Examiner-Paul J. Henon Assistant Emminer.loseph M. Thesz, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Lane, Aitken, Dunner &

Ziems 5 7 ABSTRACT An illuminated figure indicating, electromagnetic counter is disclosed wherein electrical input pulses are used to drive a lighted multi-segment numeral indicator. The input pulses are applied to electromagnetic means having an actuating arm which engages a gear affixed to rotor means having a predetermined pattern of surface irregularities. Resilient contacts make and break circuits for each segment of the display responsive to the surface irregularities and the stepwise rotation of the rotor means. A combination of such counters is disclosed enabling multi-digit representations and up and down counting.

3 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures Nemcth 235/92 EV PATENTEDJUN 41974 SHEEI 2 BF 3 FIG.3

PATENTEDJUN 4:914 3.814.908

SHEET 3 BF 3 IHIHI'I ILLUMINATED FIGURE INDICATING COUNTER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to electrical counters and more particularly to a'counter which utilizes electromagnetic force and-a combination of rotor means and resilient elongated metal conductive means with a power supply source to convert serial input pulses directly into the powersupply source to drive a seven, eight or nine segmented illuminated figure indicator.

The demand for a variety of controls required in many fields of industry has recently led to the development of a class of devices known as counters. Among those, small size, drum type counters find wide application, although they have suffered from the drawback that the indicated figures are too small in size and hard to read in a dark place. There is available a Nixie tube type electric-bulb figure indicator which meets this end, but it is extremely costly. Therefore, there remains a demand for an economical counter and display which permits easy reading of displayed figures even in a dark place far away from the counter.

Under these circumstances, difficulties arise in providing decimal or hexadigit indication by combining such counters because of their complicated construc- SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It has now been found that the foregoing and related objects can be readily attained by an illuminated figure indicating counter having a rotor means adapted to be rotated through a' given angle by means of electromagnetic force each time a counter input signal is fed to the counter, said rotor means havingprogram med irregularity around its outer peripheral surface; and switching means adapted to directly convert input figures to seven, eight or nine segmented power supply source to turn on or off electric bulbs housed in segments which are used in combination for indicating numerals, said switching means co-operating with said programmed irregularity; whereby in response to the stepwise rotation of the rotor through a given angle. the number of input signals counted may be converted to the seven, eight or nine segment power supply source and indicated in numeral form by means of said electric bulbs.

Furthermore, the provision of two electromagnets enables normal and reverse rotation of the rotor means whereby the counter is capable of counting forwards and backwards.

Still furthermore, a combination of counters of the present invention provides a multi-digit indication. Switching means are adapted to close only when the rotor means in one counter has rotated through one or a half turn, whereby electric current is caused to flow to the succeeding counter to thereby actuate same.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a fragmentary, perspective view of one embodiment of an illuminated figure-indicating counter of the present invention having a seven segment display;

FIG. 2 is a schematic wiring diagram of the counter of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic wiring diagram of a combination of three counters, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, providing a three-digit, plus and minus counter;

FIG. 4 is a front plan view of disc means of another modification of the present invention, whcih is adapted to provide combinations of circuit closures in connection with the counter of FIG. 1;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION Referring now to FIG. 1, the reference numerals 1 and 18 represent electromagnets, 2 a magnetically responsive arm extendably mounted in one of said electromagnets and adapted to engage a gear 4'. A rotor means 3 is adapted to be rotated stepwise, counterclockwise by the gear 4 through an angle of'36 l/ 10 of 360) about its axis to indicate decimal figures from O,to 9, sequentially. The rotor means has seven grooves 5 on the peripheral surface thereof with precisely varying depth in accordance with a predetermined program, said grooves each engaging therein conductive arms 6. The tips of said arms 6 are in contact on one side with a contacting bar 7 adapted to open or close an electric circuit, and connected on the other side with corresponding bulbs housed in segments in a figure indicating section 14.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the reference numerals 8 and 9 designate specific arms, 10 and 11 corresponding contacts, 12, l3, l6 and 17 electric bulbs, 15 a spring which is provided on said eleetromagnet urging said arm outwardly,'20 and 21 switches each positioned on the opposite sides of said rotor means 3, and 19 a groove formed on the side of said rotor means.

In operation, when electric, current flows to the electromagnet l, the arm 2 is retracted with the tip portion thereof engaging the gear 4 affixed to the rotor means 3. This causes the rotor means 3 to rotate counterclockwise through an angle of 36 about its axis, such that the rotor means 3 adapts different orientations corresponding to the 10 figures from 0 to 9.? Since arms 8 and 9 are in engagement with the grooves 5, which have reduced depth at this position, these.

arms will then be raised so that the contacts 10 and 11 assume the open position, and thus among seven bulbs, bulbs 12 and 13 will be turned off, re sult ir ig in the indication of a .figure 3 on the electric-bulb figure indicating section 14.

On the/other hand, when the electromagnet l is released from actuation i.e., electric current ceases to flow through said electromagnet l, the arm 2 will be extended or released under the action of the spring 15 to the initial'position. At this time, the tip of the arm 2 is not in engagement with the gear 4 so that the rotor means 3 retains its preceding orientation, with the figure 3 showing on the indicating section. Subsequently, when electric current flows to the electromagnet I, the rotor means 3, as described earlier, will again rotate through an angle of 36. However, in this position. the depths of the grooves which, are being engaged by the plurality of arms 6, differ in combination from those described earlier, for instance, in such a manner that bulbs 13, 16 and 17 will be turned off, with the other four bulbs remaining on, thus indicating a figure 4" on the indicating section 14. Thus, figures from to 9 will be sequentially indicated on the section 14 by the provision of a combination of different depths of the seven grooves 5, so that the contacts between the arms 2 and contacting bar 7 will give a variety of combinations of on and "off" positions, each time the rotor means 3 is turned through an angle of 36 by virtue of the actuation of the electromagnet 1. As a result, a figure represented by number of pulses is converted directly to the driving electric power to drive a seven segmented electric-bulb figure indicator, and the figure is shown on the indicator as an illuminated numeral.

Turning now to electromagnet l8, when the electromagnet 18 is actuated, the tip of the arm mounted in said electromagnet 18 will be retracted with said tip engaging a similar gear 4 (not shown) located on the other side of the rotor means 3, such that, as opposed to the previous case, the rotor means 3 will be rotated clockwise through an angle of 36. The arms for the electromagnets l and 18 extend above and below the respective gears 4. Thus in the case of electromagnet 18, the steps will be reversed, i.e., the figures to be indicated on the figure indicating section 14 will appear in the reversed sequence, say, from 9 to This means that minus or down counting is effected. In cont rast, plus or.up.counting may be effected byactuating electromagnet l. 7

Now, description will be given the multi-digit decimal counting process provided by the illuminated figure in dicating counter of the present invention. As described previously, there is provided a groove or recess 19 on the side surface of the rotor means 3. The groove 19 is so arranged that the switching means 20 will be closed, only when the number indicated on the figure indicating section 14 is in the course of changing from 9 to O, i.e., when the rotor 3 stands between a position which gives the indication of 9 and a position which gives the indication of 0. Likewise, the switching means 21, similar to switching means 20, is provided on the other side of the rotor means 3 for the sake of minus counting. As opposed to the plus counting case, the switching means 21 will be closed only when the figure on indicating section 14 is in the course of changing from 0 to 9 FIG. 3 shows the wiring diagram of the electric illuminated figure indicating counter which provides three digit, plus and minus (up and down) decimal indication. in operation, when counting is carried out to indicate the number of rotations of a plus input rotor means 24, which is adapted to open or close the counting electric contact 23 with aid of contact arms, the plus-minus select switching means 22 is first turned to the left as shown in FIG. 3. However, before commencement of the rotation of the rotor means 24, the reset buttons 25, 26 and 27 should have been depressed to thereby give the O indication for each digit-shown on the three figure indicating sections. The electromagnet 29 of the third digit counter component 28 of the electromagnet counter of the present invention is adapted to rotate the rotor means 30 through an angle of 36, each time the electrical contact 23 closes. Like the previous case, the closure of the contact 23 is adapted to turn on or off the bulbs associated with the segments which make up the figures. in this manner, the number of rotations of the rotor means 24 will in turn be indicated on the illuminated figure-indicating section. When the figure shown on the third digit counter component 28 is in the course of changing from 9 to 0, the switching means 31 will close, as in the case of the switching means 20 (FIG. 2), to thereby actuate the electromagnet 33 of the second digit counter component 32. This causes the rotor means 34 to rotate through an angle of 36 to there appreciated by those skilled in the art, the next time counter component 28, the figure indicated in the second digit counter component 32 will change from 1 to 2. When the figures shown in the second and third digit counter components 32 and 28 come to appear as 99 due to the rotor 24 which has rotated 99 turns, the next step of rotation of the rotor means 24 will change the figures indicated on the second and third digit counter components 32 and 28 from 99 to 00, whereupon the contact 35 in the second digit counter component 32 will close to thereby actuate the electromagnet 37 in the first digit counter component 36, rotating the rotor means'38 through an angle of 36 with resultant changing of the indication of the figure from 0" to l." In other words, the figures being indicated in three digits will read as 100." Thus decimal notation in three digits is achieved by using a combination of counters of the present invention. Accordingly, in this example,

shown in FIG. 3, indication of figures up to 999 may be effected.

Alternatively, when the plus-minus select switching means 22 is turned to the right and thereafter the figure is indicated, for example as 200 by the use of reset buttons 25, 26 and 27, the minus input rotor means 39 with a contact arm is rotated to actuate the electrical contact 40, the rotor means 39 will rotate one turn, closing the electrical contact 40. Then, the electromagnet 41 in the third digit counter component 28 is actuated to rotate the rotor means 30 counterclockwise through an angle of 36, thus resulting in changing the indicated figure from 0 to 9." In the course of changing from 0" to 9," the electrical contact of switching means 42 closes to rotate the rotor means 34 counterclockwise, resulting in changing the indicated figure from 0" to 9. On the other hand, the switching means 44 is also closed to thereby actuate the electromagnet 45 in the first digit counter component 36, with the result that the rotor means 36 will be rotated counterclockwise through an angle of 36 to thereby change the figure being indicated on the first digit counter component 36 from 2 to l Therefore, the

I figure being indicated at this time will be 199," i.e.,

the figure which has been reduced by one count. In this manner, it is possible to indicate in three digits the figure less the number of rotations of the rotor means 39.

As can readily be inferred from the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an arm 6 made from resilient elongated metal conductor may be used in place of the arm 6, an end of which is in electrical contact in a position away from the rotor means 3. Furthermore, it is possible to provide the rotor means 3 with a group of programed short circuit contacts located directly on the outer periphery thereof by eliminating contacting bar 7.- ln this case, similar or even better results may be obtained as in the case where a group of arms 6 is in engagement with the grooves 5 and contacting bar 7.

Alternatively, the combination of switching means and rotor means may be modified as shown in FIGS. 4 through 9.

In this embodiment, the rotor means described thus far is replaced by a disc, the programed surface irregu' larity is provided by slots or' grooves on said disc, and the contact arms are provided by a plurality of curved resilient metal conductors.

However, this modification operates by as shortcircuit a pre-selected combination of circuits rather than by switching the same.

Referring now to FIG. 4, shown at (147) and (148) are spaced, electrically conductive thin discs, which each include grooves or shortcircuiting elements therein for the purpose which will be described in more detail hereinafter. Shown at (146) is an electrically insulating disc-which mounts said two conductive thin discs (147) and (148) on opposite sides thereof.

The aforesaid shortcircuiting elements (133), (134), (135), (136), (137), (138), (139), (140), (141) and (142) are provided in said two thin conductive discs, being positioned at different diameters and spaced circumferentially by 36 degrees as shown. Shown at (125) through (l32) in FIGS. 7 through 9 are resilient, elongated metal conductors constituting two groups of conductors, with one group positioned in a facing relation to another.

As can readily be seen from the drawings, each time the disc assembly, i.e., discs I46), (I47) and (148) are rotated through an angle of 36, there will result a variety of combinations of shortcircuiting in accordance with the program prepared, thus providing electrically illuminated, programmed numerals on the figure indicating section, in the manner described in the previous embodiment.

As is apparent from the foregoing, the simple but efficient counter of the present invention facilitates economical manufacture and provides a precise, easy-toread. low cost digital counter display. Furthermore, by combining'the counters multi-digit decimal notation may be readily achieved, while providing the further advantage that subtraction as well as addition is possible and that resetting of the figures may be readily accomplished. Furthermore, it is possible to design an electric-bulb figure indicating section which can be removed from the counter so that such sections may be remotely located, such as on the wall away from the counter, using an electric line, to the effect that one can read the figure in another location. Still furthermore, it is possible that two or three figure indicating sections may be provided for one counter unit by a parallel electric connection and that the same counter may be observed in two or three different rooms by providing the two or three figure indicating sections one each in the aforesaid rooms, or otherwise that there may be provided two-or-three-face figure indicating section composed of two or three figure indicating sections of this kind. In addition, it is possible to provide a large size, highly illuminative electric-bulb figure indicating section, because the electrical switching means for use in turning on or off the segment electric bulbs can be increased in its electrical capacity. It is further possible, for example for counting the time in minutes to provide a large digital clock with illuminated figure indicating sections housed in large size segments using elongated fluorescent lamps.

I claim:

1. An illuminated figure indicating counter, comprismg:

a plurality of lightable elements arranged to form a segmented numeral indicator; rotor means mounted for rotation having a predetermined pattern of irregularities formed on the outer surface thereof;

drive means for imparting stepwise rotation to said rotor means in response to an electrical input pulse;

switching means including a plurality of conductive contact elements connected respectively between said lightable elements and a source of current, said contact elements being positioned in contact with said rotor means surface to selectively connect and disconnect respective ones of said lightable elements from said current source in response to the orientation of said rotor means, said predetermined pattern being selected such that a corresponding sequence of numbers is indicated by said numeral indicator during successive steps of said rotor means, the outer surface of said rotor means forming said irregularities being electrically nonconductive and said switching means further including an electrical contact bar adjacent to the periphery of said rotor means, said contact elements making and breaking the respective circuits for corresponding lightable elements by contacting and breaking contact with said bar in response to said surface irregularities and stepwise rotation of said rotor means.

2. Counting apparatus, comprising a plurality of counters, each including a plurality of lightable elements arranged to form a segmented numeral indicator; rotor means mounted for rotation having a predetermined pattern of irregularities formed on the outer surface thereof; drive means for imparting stepwise rotation to said rotor means in response to an electrical input pulse; switching means including a plurality of conductive contact elements connected respectively between said lightable elements anda source of current, said contact elements being positioned in contact with said rotor means surface to selectively connect and disconnect respective ones of said lightable elements from said current source in response to the orientation of said rotor means, said predetermined pattern being selected such that a corresponding sequence of number is indicated by said numeral indicator during successive steps of said rotor means, the outer surface of said rotor means of each counter forming said irregularities is electrically nonconductive and the predetermined pattern of irregularities on the surface of the rotor means of at least one counter includes an irregularity indicative of a carry condition, and the switching means associated with said rotor means further includes another conductive contact element positioned for actuation by said carry irregularity, said other contact element being connected in circuit with the drive means of another counter so as to provide an electrical input pulse thereto causing registration of a unit incremented number on the numeral indicator of said other counter.

3. An illuminated figure indicating counter, comprising: a plurality of lightable elements arranged to form a segmented numeral indicator; rotor means mounted for rotation having a predetermined pattern of irregularities formed on the outer surface thereof; drive means for imparting stepwise rotation to said rotor means in response to an electrical input pulse; switching means including a plurality of conductive contact elements connected respectively between said lightable elements and a source of current, said contact elements being positioned in contact with said rotor means surface to selectively connect and disconnect respective ones of said lightable elements for said current source in response to the orientation of said rotor means, said predetermined pattern being selected such that a corresponding sequence of numbers is indicated by said numeral indicator during successive steps of said rotor means, said pattern of irregularities on said rotor means is provided by a disc-shaped coaxial assembly including a pair of slotted electrically conductive discs separated by an electrically insulating disc, said contact elements including two opposed sets of resilient electrically conductive members contacting said slotted discs respectively at different radii from the axis of rotation thereof, said conductive members making and breaking the respective circuits for corresponding lightable elements by contacting the solid and slotted portions of said discs.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,314,908 Dated June 4, 1974 C Y b I Inventor(s) asuo akq. ayashl It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Page 1, after Appl. No.: 266,676" insert the following:

-Foreign Application Priority Data July 5, 1971 Japan No. 48804/l97l--;

Column 2, line 13, 'whcih" should read -which;

line,23, "emboding" should read -embodying-;

Signed and sealed this 29th day of October 1974.

(SEAL) Attest McCOY M. GIBSON JR. C. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents :ORM po'wso uscoMM-oc 60376-P69 fi U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTlNG OFFICE: Q69 0-366-334, 

1. An illuminated figure indicating counter, comprising: a plurality of lightable elements arranged to form a segmented numeral indicator; rotor means mounted for rotation having a predetermined pattern of irregularities formed on the outer surface thereof; drive means for imparting stepwise rotation to said rotor means in response to an electrical input pulse; switching means including a plurality of conductive contact elements connected respectively between said lightable elements and a source of current, said contact elements being positioned in contact with said rotor means surface to selectively connect and disconnect respective ones of said lightable elements from said current source in response to the orientation of said rotor means, said predetermined pattern being selected such that a corresponding sequence of numbers is indicated by said numeral indicator during successive steps of said rotor means, the outer surface of said rotor means forming said irregularities being electrically nonconductive and said switching means further including an electrical contact bar adjacent to the periphery of said rotor means, said contact elements making and breaking the respective circuits for corresponding lightable elements by contacting and breaking contact with said bar in response to said surface irregularities and stepwise rotation of said rotor means.
 2. Counting apparatus, comprising a plurality of counters, each including a plurality of lightable elements arranged to form a segmented numeral indicator; rotor means mounted for rotation having a predetermined pattern of irregularities formed on the outer surface thereof; drive means for imparting stepwise rotation to said rotor means in response to an electrical input pulse; switching means including a plurality of conductive contact elements connected respectively between said lightable elements and a source of current, said contact elements being positioned in contact with said rotor means surface to selectively connect and disconnect respective ones of said lightable elements from said current source in response to the orientation of said rotor means, said predetermined pattern being selected such that a corresponding sequence of number is indicated by said numeral indicator during successive steps of said rotor means, the outer surface of said rotor means of each counter forming said irregularities is electrically nonconductive and the predetermined pattern of irregularities on the surface of the rotor means of at least one counter includes an irregularity indicative of a carry condition, and the switching means associated with said rotor means further includes another conductive contact element positioned for actuation by said carry irregularity, said other contact element being connected in circuit with the drive means of another counter so as to provide an electrical input pulse thereto causing registration of a unit incremented number on the numeral indicator of said other counter.
 3. An illuminated figure indicating counter, comprising: a plurality of lightable elements arranged to form a segmented numeral indicator; rotor means mounted for rotation having a predetermined pattern of irregularities formed on the outer surface thereof; drive means for imparting stepwise rotation to said rotor means in response to an electrical input pulse; switching means including a plurality of conductive contact elements connected respectively between said lightable elements and a source of current, said contact elements being positioned in contact with said rotor means surface to selectively connect and disconnect respective ones of said lightable elements for said current source in response to the orientation of said rotor means, said predetermined pattern being selected such that a corresponding sequence of numbers is indicated by said numeral indicator during successive steps of said rotor means, said pattern of irregularities on said rotor means is provided by a disc-shaped coaxial assembly including a pair of slotted electrically conductive discs separated by an electrically insulating disc, said contact elements including two opposed sets of resilient electrically conductive members contacting said slotted discs respectively at different radii from the axis of rotation thereof, said conductive members making and breaking the respective circuits for corresponding lightable elements by contacting the solid and slotted portions of said discs. 